Al Kidwa Urges UN Security Council to Act Against the Israeli War Crimes
GAZA - - The Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, Dr. Nasser Al Kidwa, sent a letter of protest to the
President of the UN Security Council, Mr. Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, condemning the Israeli extrajudicial execution of
the spiritual leader and founder of Hamas movement, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, and demanding a swift intervention by the
Security Council to end the Israeli aggression of the Palestinian people.
The letter of Dr. Al Kidwa, which the IPC received a copy from, described the extrajudicial execution of Sheikh Yassin
as a war crime, including the later killings that followed, in which nearly 12 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli
occupying forces (IOF).
"Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made a statement after the extrajudicial execution of Sheikh Yassin indicating that
he was personally involved as he oversaw the entire operation, receiving constant updates from Israeli occupying forces.
Prime Minister Sharon also stated that the illegal practices of extrajudicial executions would continue," excerpts of Al
Kidwa's letter read.
Al Kidwa pointed out to the overwhelming condemnation by the international community of this crime in specific, and to
the resumption of the Israeli policy of extrajudicial executions against the Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian
territories.
He called on the UN Security Council to condemn this crime and exert pressure on Israel to cease the policy of
extrajudicial executions. "we call on the United Nations Security Council to take specific measures to condemn the
criminal act and to ensure the cessation by Israel, the occupying Power, of extrajudicial executions and other illegal
policies and practices being committed against the Palestinian people."
The Permanent Observer of Palestine continued by noting that the 185 letters sent by him to the UN Security Council
since September 28, 2000 have constituted a record of the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people. He demanded
that Israel be held accountable for all its war crimes, State terrorism and systemic human rights violations against the
Palestinian people.
Al Kidwa concluded by mentioning that with the latest Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people, the total death
toll of Palestinian people climbed to 2,858 since the eruption of the Al Aqsa Intifada in September, 2000.
Quadriplegic Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, along with nine other civilians, has been extra-judicially executed by Israeli combat
helicopters early on Monday morning, as he was leaving a local mosque near his home in one of Gaza City's neighborhoods.
His execution sparked worldwide condemnation and a mixture of angry and sad reactions among the Palestinian people and
factions.